Just a year after they started tackling barriers encountered while strolling, biking, or wheelchairing along Grass Valley's sidewalks, residents in apartments along Sutton Way, working with county heath officials and leaders of nonprofit organizations, have landed $800,000 to improve sidewalks in their neighborhood and along West Main Street.

“Everyone is very happy,” said Ana Acton, executive director of the disability advocacy group FREED, which worked on walkability projects. “A lot of times, things get done so slowly you can hardly see things changing.”

Several projects are on tap: New sidewalks on Sutton Way, crosswalks in front of Grass Valley schools and better curb accessibility for wheelchairs on West Main Street.

Looking at the problems

A year ago, representatives from the Nevada County Public Health department gathered families in the Sutton Way apartment complexes for a day-long summit to discuss the barriers that keep them from walking their neighborhoods.

“We always start with the most dangerous places, with seniors, wheelchairs, children, areas surrounding schools and areas with higher density,” said Galen El-Askari, health and wellness program manager of the Nevada County Public Health Department.

The three apartment complexes on Sutton Way are comprised of about 200 units housing lots of children, El-Askari said.

About 40 people attended the workshop, pointing out missing sidewalks, dangerous crosswalks and poor lighting — all things that keep them in their cars instead of out in fresh air.

Participants also learned about the importance of living in walkable neighborhoods, where strolling to the store or school is safe and fun.

Others joined in the workshop, including members of FREED, who voiced concerns about sidewalks that are impassible for wheelchairs.

Advocates for bikeable neighborhoods showed up, too.

“When I heard about the Sutton Way project, I chuckled and said, ‘That place is a disaster,'” said Jerry Henderson, a Grass Valley resident and bike enthusiast. “I went to the meeting kind of skeptical, but I was amazed by the presentation.”

A common cause

About four years ago, FREED members started making a list of places that were inhospitable to disabled people, such as a difficult-to-navigate curbs in front of schools.

One story they heard was about a father and daughter, both in wheelchairs, who had trouble getting to school from their apartment.

“There are so many issues. It can be totally overwhelming,” Acton said.

But once they partnered with Live Healthy Nevada County, a local organization championing walkable neighborhoods, and the county's public health department, which was interested in boosting health conditions among low-income neighborhoods and Latino residents, their cause got more attention.

Grass Valley Senior Civil Engineer Trisha Tillotson identified several grants the group could apply for, including a California Safe Routes to School grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.

As a coalition, they scored both.

State officials “want to see community partnerships,” El-Askari said.

With the funding, construction and improvements can start over the summer.

- A $574,000 Safe Routes to Schools grant will go toward a project to improve West Main Street and for community outreach events. Projects include enhancing wheelchair accessibility and re-striping the streets with bike lanes.

The grant will also fund curb ramps near Lyman Gilmore and Scotten schools, in Grass Valley. An existing crosswalk will be raised a few inches above street level, and a walkway will be installed from Lyman Gilmore School to Condon Park.

The total cost of the construction projects will be about $665,000. City officials hope to complete the project between June and October 2010, Tillotson said.

- A CMAQ grant will cover $150,000 of an improvement effort on Sutton Way. The project will extend the sidewalk from the Glenbrook Apartments to Plaza Drive and paint in a new crosswalk.

The total cost of the project will be nearly $189,000. Construction is set for sometime next summer.

The remaining balance of the projects is covered by the city's traffic safety and gas tax funds.

Stepping forward in Nevada City

The coalition originally started walkability outreach on a $375,000 grant from the nonprofit California Endowment.

Since they've accomplished their goals in Grass Valley and multiplied the start-up grant with other state grants, they're using the remaining funds to bring the cause to Nevada City. A workshop similar to last year's gathering of Sutton Way residents is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 17.

For residents, successes in Grass Valley are a step toward safer neighborhoods and also a testament to the change they can make when they work together.

“I was so impressed what a small group of people can do,” Henderson said.

To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.

Nevada City Walkability Workshop

What: Nevada City Walkability Workshop, including a free lunch catered by Stonehouse Hospitality Academy

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17

Where: Nevada City Hall council chamber

RSVP: Register with Shannon Glaz of Nevada County Public Health by Friday at (530) 265-1451